Serial Games (Virginia Justice Book One) (22 page)

“Brandon, look.”

Brandon came beside her to look at the empty space. He fingered the shelf. “Barely any dust there. The album may have been moved more than once.”

“The question is, has Burrows been here since his escape?”

“What are you doing?”

Always the curious cat, Maggie removed some of the books from the shelf and placed them on the floor.

“I smell something.”

“Trust me, it’s the basement,” Brandon said dryly.

“No, it’s more than that.” Maggie continued to remove the books. When she had enough space to work with, she lightly touched the back of the bookcase.

“Feeling for another trap door? Here, let me.” He gently pulled her back and out of the way. Using the butt of his flashlight, he slammed it into the bookcase. The back of the antique popped out. Maggie shined her flashlight and inhaled sharply.

Wooden planks lined the cement wall.

“Help me move this thing.” Brandon took one end of the bookcase and Maggie the other. After a few twists and pulls, they maneuvered it away from the wall. Maggie and Brandon stood agape as they stared at another door.

“We’re about ten feet under ground, right?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Maggie breathed. “I honestly can’t recall right now.”

Brandon unclasped the lock and pushed. No give. “It must have a lock on the other side.”

“Put your shoulder into it.” Maggie exhaled.

Brandon turned and gave her a sly grin before he tensed his shoulder muscles and rammed into the door with his side. “Ow.” He rubbed his shoulder and stepped back as the door fell off one of its hinges.

As though hands drew her inside, Maggie rushed right past him and into the tunnel.

“Maggie, hold on.” Brandon’s hand caught her in the crook of her elbow and pulled her back to him. He shined his flashlight down the path. “We don’t know what’s down there, or where it leads. It could be very dangerous.”

“Well, call for some backup.” She kept her eyes glued to the darkness. An overwhelming urge to know what was at the other end had Maggie teetering on the brink of throwing caution to the wind.

Brandon flipped open his phone. “No reception. Must be down too deep.” He strained his neck upward and listened to the silence for a second. “I don’t hear anyone above us.”

“Look, we are armed, federally credentialed agents. We can do this ourselves,” Maggie urged. Her eyes shifted back toward the shadows. Her senses heightened, nerves on edge. Burrows was at the other end, and they would catch him at any moment.
I have to catch him
.

“It could be a labyrinth for all we know. We could get lost.”

“We’ll leave bread crumbs.”

“Maggie,” Brandon breathed. His hands gripped upper arms. “I want to catch this guy as much as you do and if this were any other case, I’d be halfway down that tunnel right now, but let’s think this one through. No mistakes.”

Maggie halted her pleas. Brandon was right. Heading down a deep, dark tunnel was like going down Alice’s rabbit hole, only she was sure white, fluffy rabbits wouldn’t be waiting for them on the other side. What if another woman was? When Maggie discovered Burrows for the first time, he had Sally Mayes strapped to a chair, a knife inches from her throat. What if she had arrived five minutes later? Would Burrows have completed his torture on Sally? Maggie couldn’t allow that to happen to another woman. Not when she had the chance to catch him again.

“Brandon,” she calmly began, “if only you could have witnessed the terror on Sally Mayes’s face when we intervened the last time. That scene has been playing on repeat ever since you told me Burrows had escaped. What if somewhere at the end of that tunnel,” she flashed her light down the narrow expanse, “is Burrows attempting to do only the Lord knows what, like he did to those other nine women? I don’t know how I could forgive myself for allowing it. For not stopping it while I was here.”

Brandon sighed. “Okay, but we do this my way. Burrows is
my
jurisdiction.”

“You’re pulling rank?”

“You better believe it. At the first hint of danger, we’re heading back. Agreed?”

Maggie’s pupils dilated slightly as they adjusted to the dark tunnel. She turned to Brandon and nodded. “Okay. Agreed.”

Slowly they stepped into the darkness.

The tunnel continued to extend. Maggie sniffed the damp, cold air. The dirt and staleness irritated her nostrils. She held back a sneeze. “How long have we been walking?” Maggie asked.

Time didn’t exist in the small, enclosed, never-ending space. Maggie hoped the agents left in the yard would soon be on their heels. Although she had convinced Brandon not to wait for the other agents, she wasn’t naïve to the risk they ran if caught by surprise. Strength in numbers couldn’t be discounted. Maggie silently prayed Happy wasn’t with Burrows and neither were armed. Brandon touched the side of his watch and the face illuminated.

“About seven minutes.”

“Seven? I thought at least a half an hour.”

“It’s only been taking so long because we are moving rather slowly. Which is a good thing. We don’t want to trip and break something in here. We’d have to separate while one of us gets help. I’m not about to leave you down here.”

“Who says I’ll be the one tripping and breaking my ankle?”

Brandon chuckled. “Given your history? I’d say it’s a safe bet I have better balance.”

Maggie wanted to clock him, but she refrained. There would be time for that later. “This tunnel is incredible,” she marveled.

“Isn’t it? It must have taken a lot of time, not to mention a considerable amount of money, to hollow out the ground. Makes me wonder if he had any help.”

“At the top of my list would be Happy Gilbert.”

“I’d say that’s a given.” Brandon flashed the light on the walls of the tunnel. “The walls are evenly carved out. There’s nothing makeshift about this tunnel. You said he had money, and this is what he invested it in.”

“I still can’t believe we missed this thing before,” Maggie noted. “If Happy helped Burrows, that would mean he probably knew about the murders as they were occurring.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. What cause would you have had to pull a bookcase out from a wall? It isn’t at all necessary to move every piece of furniture at a crime scene, especially if it doesn’t fit into the puzzle.”

Maggie appreciated him saying so. His confidence in her continued to amaze her. But Maggie didn’t want to have a mistake such as this lead to another woman’s death. “I know, but still. It gives the appearance we weren’t thorough.”

“You were thorough,” Brandon stated firmly. “We’re dealing with a maniac who has a fetish for secret passageways. It’s an amazing accomplishment you were able to catch him in the first place, and before any real harm could come to Sally Mayes.”

Maggie warmed at the compliment. “You know, ever since I completed the Burrows case the first time, I’ve been dealing with a sense of inadequacy. Sometimes I’ve wondered if I belong in the profiling unit,” she admitted softly.

“Clearly you have God-given talent. You’re the right person for the job. I’m sure Sally Mayes would agree.” Brandon cleared his throat. Whether he was choking from actually admitting God had a hand in her life, or from the poor air quality, she couldn’t tell. “Sometimes you have to have a little faith, Maggie. Trust me. I know how painful it can be when you don’t.”

Maggie detected a trace amount of bitterness in his voice.
Lord, please don’t give up on him
.

“You’ve questioned your own faith?”

“I never did until Emily passed.”

Maggie could hear emotion thick in his throat. What if something happened to Brandon? How would she respond? Would she trust her faith wouldn’t fail her no matter her situation? Maggie always imagined she would until she heard Brandon’s story. Now she wasn’t so sure. She knew in her heart if any harm came to him, the pain would incapacitate her. She refused to dwell on any scenario in which the end resulted in his harm and her heartache.

“I think I see some sort of light ahead.” Maggie dropped the light from her flashlight down to the ground. She squinted her eyes in an effort to distinguish illusion from reality.

“Not getting claustrophobic, are we?” Brandon jabbed.

“No, not really. You?”

“Yes, actually, I am a little.”

She couldn’t tell. His steady voice held no fear or trepidation. His firm footsteps continued right on her heels. He chased the worst criminals and he had a fear of enclosed spaces? Maggie laughed softly. “I don’t think it will be long now.”

“Good. The smell of the iron in the dirt is starting to give me a headache.”

“Wow, how high-maintenance you sound,” Maggie teased back.

He chuckled.

Maggie enjoyed their easy rapport. The tense push-pull between them had disappeared. Their kiss in the conference room eroded both his and her walls of protection. Would they continue to explore their budding relationship after the case ended? She didn’t doubt his affection but her heart refused to relinquish a small amount of uncertainty. Just like she needed validation in her job, the last little bit of anxiety would only die with his words of commitment. Yet, she wouldn’t hear them until they were out of this tunnel. Maggie quickened her steps and the small light ahead earlier grew larger. “I definitely see light.”

“Great. Keep going but be careful. If Burrows frequents this tunnel, he could have heard us coming by now. Keep your eyes peeled.”

“Right.”

“As soon as we reach the surface, I’m radioing for backup.”

“I wonder what Bernie has learned from Happy.”

“I remember you said he wasn’t so forthcoming.”

Maggie grimaced. Considering Happy Gilbert’s odd behavior, she could only imagine Bernie would end up with more questions than answers. Doug had been spot-on, sniffing out the elusiveness of Happy Gilbert. She made a mental note to thank him once she returned to the hotel. “If I know Doug, he should have the guy writing a confession right about now.”

“He’s that good in the booth, huh?”

In the interrogation booth, absolutely Doug was that good.

Maggie stifled a gasp as she hit something hard and fell to the ground. She moaned in pain and clutched her right shin.

“Are you alright?” Brandon knelt beside her. He shined the light around her and looked for something she could’ve tripped over.

“I think so. Just knocked my shin on something. I’ll be okay.” As she rubbed her shin, her fingers sensed the heat of the wound from underneath her pants leg. A slight lump formed.

“Let me help you up.”

Brandon gently eased her to her feet. He steadied her, and Maggie calmed her nerves. She wanted to continue the journey and hoped Brandon wouldn’t recommend they turn around. As his arms continued to hold her, her eyes — long since adjusted to the darkness — focused on his. He leaned in and his warm lips brushed hers. She shivered in pleasure.

“Be careful, will you?” His gentle petition spoke volumes. His concern for her well-being touched her core.

For a brief second, Maggie considered falling more often. “Yes, Marshal Worth.”

Brandon grinned. He released her and knelt to retrieve her flashlight. He handed it to her. His fingers lingered on hers longer than really necessary. Maggie appreciated the gesture and bit her lip to keep from giggling like a schoolgirl.

Another three minutes of carefully making their way down the tunnel and Maggie informed Brandon a wall blocked their continuance. Brandon moved forward, and gently moved her behind him. He put his hands up and felt around. He agreed they were at the end of the tunnel.

“Now what?” Maggie asked. She hoped another door would lead elsewhere but so far they were several feet beneath the earth, with no sign of an exit. Maggie worked to keep her frustrations in check.

“Hold on, let’s see if this thing goes up.” Brandon reached above and gave a soft cry of success. “Something is here. I think it’s another wood door or covering.” He backed away and then knelt, cupping his hands. “Let me give you a boost. Push up as hard as you can.”

“Okay.” She placed her foot into his hand and he lifted. Maggie gritted her teeth and pushed with all her might. Dirt, leaves, and twigs covered them as she removed the wooden blockage. Light enveloped them and fresh air filled her lungs. With another boost, Maggie climbed over the side.

“Careful up there,” Brandon called from below.

She paused and on her knees, pulled out her weapon. She cautiously panned around. Her ears strained for any noise; her eyes searched for the slightest movement. The forest surrounded her. She eyed no identifiable trails, nor did she hear the sounds of civilization. Birds chirped, and insects shrilled. Satisfied they were alone, she replaced her weapon and reached down to help pull Brandon out. After he inhaled a deep breath, he unsheathed his weapon.

Maggie stayed close to the ground but tried to establish her bearings. The sun still traveled toward the top of the sky, and in the distance, all she could perceive were the songs of birds, and the knocking of woodpeckers on their favorite trees. “We could be anywhere.”

“I don’t remember the tunnel making any twists and turns.”

“Nor I.”

“Hopefully we’re at most a mile into the woods, a direct line from the Burrows’s residence.”

“Hopefully,” Maggie whispered. The woods surrounding them were fairly dense and she couldn’t see a single house on Burrows’s lane.

“These woods were difficult to search.” Brandon’s phone buzzed. “I have several missed calls and a couple of voicemails. Keep watch, will you?”

“On it.” Maggie kept her weapon at the ready while Brandon prioritized his messages.

“Jackson? It’s Worth. Yeah, Agent Weston and I discovered a tunnel in the second basement. You can’t miss it. We followed it out. Yeah, about a mile. Hold on, let me look at my watch.”

Maggie heard him give the coordinates to their location. Then a tree branch snapped. Brandon immediately ceased his conversation. He ended the call and pulled his firearm.

“North of us,” Maggie whispered. Brandon nodded and Maggie allowed him to take the lead. Both moved stealthily through the forest brush, careful to make their footsteps as light as possible. About five minutes later, Brandon held up a hand to signal her to stop. A couple of yards behind him, Maggie paused and made a careful three hundred sixty-degree turn. Her eyes checked for any movement. After she was sure they weren’t being followed, Maggie moved closer to Brandon.